Picking the right pediatrician in Homewood-Flossmoor

Homewood-Flossmoor

Homewood board passes annual budget | page 13 Youth hockey teams earn SSHL titles | page 14

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APRIL 26-May 2, 2012

Finding Dr. Right

page 8

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Julie Anderson, Interim Editorjanderson@tribune.com

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How to Reach Us

H-F Best Bets, Week oF April 29, 2012

Washington Park, Homewood: Halsted and Maple Ave. 1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo2) Immortals3) Tower Heist

183rd and Halsted1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo2) Immortals3) Jack and Jill

Cherry Creek Shopping Center: 183rd and Gover-nors Highway1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo2) Tower Heist3) Immortals

top H-F dvd rentAls April 1-7

Spring Cleaning!H-F residents, it’s time to shake off the dust and clean out your closets. Share your best spring cleaning tips and tricks with us. Email them to triblocaltips@triblocal.com

Coming up: H-F best golf coursesReady to tee it up? Triblocal has the area’s best guide to private, semi-private and public golf courses.

JAZZ IT UPWHEN: 7 p.m. May 3WHERE: Good Life Cafe, 2057 Ridge Road, HomewoodEach Thursday, this downtown Homewood restaurant, which opened in 2011, hosts a jazz evening starring the Chicago Jazz Posse featuring Chris Ussery on piano and Eugene Vineyard on saxophone. For more information, contact Good Life Cafe, 708-960-0418.

FAMILYMAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU ON STAR WARS DAYWHEN: 6 p.m. May 4WHERE: Irwin Park and Community Center, 18120 Highland Ave., HomewoodCelebrating May the Fourth (get it?), this is a celebration of George Lucas’ iconic Star Wars film franchise. Activities including lightsaber tutorials, trivia, a costume contest and Star Wars-themed snacks will begin at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., organizers will air “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,” the first film in the series, released in 1977. For more information, con-tact the Irwin Park and Community Center, 708-957-7275.

ArtINTRO TO POTTERYWHEN: 1 p.m. May 6WHERE: Village Artists, 1957 Ridge Road, HomewoodStephanie Fine will lead a course teaching children how to build pieces made of clay at this nonprofit dedicated to giving kids and adults a place to exercise their artistic tal-ents. Designed for kids ages 5 to 8, the program costs $60 for instruction and materials. For more details, call Village Artists, 708-798-4774.

‘MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING’ WHEN: 7 p.m. May 3-5WHERE: Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 999 Kedzie Ave., FlossmoorH-F High School continues its tradition of producing classic plays by putting on one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies. With an award-winning cast and crew, H-F Theatre produces more than five shows per year, recently performing “The Music Man,” “Annie” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” For tickets and more information, call the high school, 708-799-3000.

MUSIC

Q: How has filmmaking changed with the explosive growth of the available delivery systems for infor-mation?

In the 1990s, producing videos was expensive and only my big clients could afford it.

Now, equipment is less expensive and YouTube has changed everything. It’s given us an amazing way to deliver information.

When I uploaded my first video to YouTube, I had 500 hits within three weeks. To get 500 people to see my film within that time period before YouTube never happened.

Q: What challenges does such imme-diacy of access now present to film-makers?

Getting noticed. The best thing about YouTube is that anyone can make a film and upload it.

The worst thing is that anyone can make a film and upload it. It’s hard to filter through what is good and what is bad.

Q: What does YouTube mean specifi-cally to documentary filmmakers

Anne Colton, documentary filmmakerFive questions WitH...

PHoTo CourTESY oF AnnE CoLTon

HOMETOWN: Homewood

OCCUPATION: Documentary filmmaker and partner of Studio 604, www.studio-604.net

EDUCATION: Graduate of Glenbard West High School, 1982; Coursework at Univer-sity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Columbia College, Chicago

About Anne Colton

such as yourself?You can reach more people than

ever before. When most people in my generation think of documentaries, they think of Public Television — bor-ing!

Now, we can break out of that stig-ma with access to all different kinds of

filmmakers and increased viewership.

Q: What about critics and competi-tion having the ability to see your work so easily?

Criticism is what makes you strong-er. It makes me happy if 100 people love my film, but that’s not going to

Community

Community notes

H-F campaign contributions

The following campaign contributions were recorded in the Homewood-Flossmoor area from April 9-15:

• North Suburban Teachers Union COPE received a $2,112.60 transfer from Illinois Federation of Teachers, 500 Oakmont Lane, in Westmont. North Suburban Teachers Union supports the interests of its members.

• Patrick J. King, of 475 N. Cass Ave., Unit 107, in Westmont, made a $200 contribution to IUOE Local 399 Political Education Fund. IUOE Local 399 Political Education Fund supports candidates for state and local offices.

• Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE, of 500 Oakmont Lane, in Westmont, made a

$25,000 transfer to Democratic Majority. Il-linois Federation of Teachers COPE supports candidates for public office.

Memorial fishing derby planned at Dolphin Lake

The McDowell family and Henry’s Sports, Bait and Marine are sponsoring the free McDowell Memorial Fishing Derby from 8-11:30 a.m. April 28 at Dolphin Lake, located at the intersection of 183rd Street and Governors Highway, in Homewood.

Anglers of all ages are welcome and eligi-ble for the biggest fish prize and other raffles. All children will also be eligible for the bike raffle.

Kids age 15 and under are free, and ages

16 and older will need an Illinois fishing li-cense and a Dolphin Lake fishing permit, which will allow participation in the fall der-by as well.

Permits are available at the Goldberg Cen-ter and Irwin Community Center for $5 for residents and $15 for nonresidents.

Call 708-957-0300 for more information.

Spring luncheon to benefit Infant Welfare Society

The Flossmoor Juniors Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society will host its annual spring luncheon at 10:30 a.m. April 27 at the Olympia Fields Country Club.

The luncheon will include boutique vendors, raffle prizes, baskets, food from a

French bakery and a gourmet luncheon.After lunch, Barbara Rinella will present

a book review of Paula McClain’s bestselling novel, “The Paris Wife.”

Tickets for the luncheon are $50.Guests who are unable to attend the lun-

cheon can partake in shopping and coffee from 10:30 a.m. to noon for a suggested do-nation of $10.

Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, a com-munity-based health care provider for under-insured women and children.

For tickets or more information, call 708-704-6022.

The Olympia Fields Country Club is lo-cated at 2800 Country Club Drive, in Olym-pia Fields.

make me a better filmmaker. Docu-mentaries tell a story.

As a filmmaker, I shape the story and ask the right kinds of questions to illicit the right response to carry the story.

Critics make me look at my story differently and give me a different perspective, which I love.

Q: Where will the future take us? I think the future will be delivering

films to mobile devices, which will open a whole new world.

Documentaries are not only art, but also messaging. We’re address-ing getting those messages to mobile devices. With technology anything can happen. We’re only limited by our imagination.

By Suzanne FlynnSOUTH SUBURBAN NEWS SERVICE

Three H-F High School seniors have formed a team to compete in Chicago Architecture Today’s Mock Firm Com-petition this spring.

Named “Team Corporate Renais-sance,” the team includes project man-ager Michael Hurley, of Homewood, lead architect Irving Rodriguez, of Glen-wood, and lead engineer Max Donkel, of Flossmoor. The team will present its proposal to a select group of judges on May 4.

“We have developed a multipurpose building in downtown Detroit in order to fully encompass the assigned theme of revival and versatility,” Hurley said. “The design is cutting-edge, utilizing a H-F HIGH SCHooL PHoTo

H-F seniors (from left) Max Donkel, Michael Hurley and Irving Rodriguez stand by H-F High School’s 3-D printer, where they made a replica of their skyscraper for the Chicago Architecture Today contest.

Homewood School District 153Monday, April 30oven roasted chicken or turkey on wheat, baked french fries, cole slaw, apple wedge, dinner roll, milkTuesday, May 1Turkey sub or turkey on wheat, tater tots, corn, juice, milkWednesday, May 2Chicken sandwich or turkey on wheat, baked smiley potatoes, sliced pears, milkThursday, May 3Hot dog or turkey on wheat, baked curly fries, diced peaches, milkFriday, May 4Cheese pizza or turkey on wheat, green beans, sliced oranges, milk

Marian Catholic High SchoolMonday, April 30Chicken alfredo with fresh broccoliTuesday, May 1Philly cheesesteak with onion ringsWednesday, May 2Fajita barThursday, May 3orange chickenFriday, May 4Jumbo stuffed shells, garlic breadParker Junior High, Flossmoor

Monday, April 30Menu AChicken nuggets, peas, 100 percent fruit juice, Munchable mix, barbe-cue sauceMenu BWhole-grain pasta with meat sauce, broccoli, peaches, pumpkin, breadMay 1-4 — to be announced

Homewood Christian AcademyMonday, April 30Pizza sticks with marinara sauce, garden salad with fat-free Italian dressing, orange, milkTuesday, May 1Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, roll, green beans, ap-plesauce, milkWednesday, May 2Chicken fajitas, soft tortillas, lettuce and salsa, cheese and sour cream, Spanish rice, corn, diced pears, milkThursday, May 3Hamburger with cheese, bun, Dori-tos, corn on the cob with butter, sliced peaches, milkFriday, May 4baked chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, mixed fruit, milk

H-F seniors to compete in architecture contestsCHools

Team creates cutting-edge multipurpose buildingBy Peter J. GallanisSOUTH SUBURBAN NEWS SERVICE

sCHool menus April 30-mAy 4

spiral that wraps the complex hourglass structure of the building.”

The students came together to work on the special project in the honors draft-ing class taught by applied academics teacher Nate Beebe.

“We wanted to take on a challeng-ing real-world project that would give us experience for our future endeavors,” Hurley said. “The architecture program at H-F gave us an awesome opportunity.”

After graduating from H-F in June, the three will be headed in different di-rections. Hurley plans to attend Grin-nell College in Iowa; Donkel will attend Penn State University to major in civil or electrical engineering; and Rodriguez plans to attend Stanford University in California to study engineering or pre-medicine.

Team creates cutting-edge multipurpose building

Choosing a physician for a child is an im-portant decision, one that will stay with the family for more than 18 years.

Within the first year of a child’s life, parents will visit a doctor’s office more than six times for well visits alone, and more if the child gets sick. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of choices, with a little research, parents should be able to find a provider they like and, more impor-tantly, trust.

“Parents have to feel comfortable enough to build a relationship with their pediatrician,” said Dr. Mark Roome, a Homewood-based pediatri-cian. “The pediatrician you choose should be friendly, kind, gentle and obviously like working with kids.”

The pediatrician should also be board certified. This means the physician has graduated college, completed four years of medical school, has at least three years of on-the-job training — called a residency in pediatrics — and has also passed an exam issued by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Dr. Jennifer Shu, pediatrician and medical edi-

tor of healthychildren.org, the consumer website of the American Academy of Pediatrics, tells TribLocal if a pediatrician is not board certified, ask why.

“Having and maintaining a board certification demonstrates that they have ongoing education and are staying current on the knowledge required to be a pediatrician,” she said.

Some families may choose to see a family practitioner instead of a pediatrician. Practitioners have all the same training and certification as a pediatrician; however, they see patients of all ages and do not limit their practice to children.

How to choose a pediatricianWith a little research H-F parents can find the right doctor

By Suzanne FlynnSOUTH SUBURBAN NEWS SERVICE

FILE PHoTo

Sources: Dr. Mark Roome and Dr. Jennifer Shu

How to choose a pediatrician It’s best to start looking for a pediatrician during

the second or third trimester of the pregnancy. “The first thing an expectant mother should do when looking for a pediatrician for their new baby is ask family and friends for referrals,” Shu said.

Shu suggests asking people who have a parent-ing style that’s admired, “because you’ll want to find a pediatrician who is not only well-trained in pedi-atrics, but also shares your own personal philosophy and style.” In addition to family and friends, obstetricians, schools, day cares and hospi-tals are also great resources for recommendations.

There are many differ-ent types of physicians. If a physician has an “M.D.” after his name that means he attended a traditional medi-cal school.

If a physician has a “D.O.” after his name, he is a graduate of an osteopathic medical school. In addi-tion to traditional medical school, he has received an additional 300 to 500 hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body’s musculoskeletal system integrated into his medical curriculum.

Regardless of the initials after a name, Roome explained that a good pediatrician will listen to par-ents’ concerns, wants and needs, and be willing to work together with parents as a team with the child’s best interest at heart.

“The parents’ and pediatrician’s personalities have to click,” Shu said. “Opinions must be heard

and questions answered. And this goes both ways; each side of the relationship has to be respectful towards each other.”

Many pediatricians offer a free meet-and-greet ap-pointment or “interview.” It’s during that interview that the parent learns about the physi-cian’s training, office hours and his personal style and views on child rearing.

If at any point the rela-tionship with the pediatrician

is not a good fit, parents should discuss their con-cerns with the physician and staff. If the concerns are not being dealt with, do not hesitate to find a new doctor.

ConTrIbuTED PHoToSDr. Mark Roome, a Homewood-based pediatrician.

Dr. Jennifer Shu, pediatrician and medical editor of healthychildren.org, the consumer website of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“ The parents’ and pediatri-cian’s personalities have

to click. Opinions must be heard and questions answered. And this goes both ways; each side of the relationship has to be respectful towards each other. ”

— Dr. Jennifer Shu, pediatrician and medical editor of healthychildren.org

Questions to ask during the interview:• Which insurance plan does the pediatrician ac-cept? • How does the practice handle payments, billing and laboratory charges?• Will the doctor (or someone else in the practice) see the newborn in the hospital or will the first contact be an office visit?• Does the doctor accept and answer questions by email?• How are appointments handled for children who are sick? Is there a good chance the child will get to see his own doctor?

Sources: AAP.org and healthgrades.com

Pediatricians in H-F:Child Life Center19550 Governors Highway, Suite 2500 Flossmoor708-799-7600

Homewood Pediatric Associates 19150 S. Kedzie Ave., Suite 100, Homewood708-335-3693Flossmoor708-799-7600

Ming-Te Lin, M.D.3235 Vollmer road, Suite 142Flossmoor708-957-7937

Moon Kim, M.D.3235 Vollmer road, Suite103Flossmoor708-798-6860

1-story updated ranch has gourmet kitchen

Constructed in 1962, this 1,884 square-foot ranch sits on 0.25 acres and includes a two-car garage. It is listed for $144,500.

Highlights of the kitchen include stain-less steel appliances, tile flooring and maple cabinetry lined with granite coun-tertops. A breakfast area has a ceiling fan and a view of the spacious family room.

Situated next to the kitchen is the carpeted dining room with a chandelier and sliding-glass doors to the backyard.

Hardwood flooring lines the living room, which has decorative trim, exposed light-ing and large windows overlooking the front yard.

The master bedroom features carpeted flooring, a ceiling fan and a pair of win-dows with decorative trim. This property is situated 2.5 miles east of the Home-wood and Flossmoor Metra stations.

Listing agent: Susan Jenner, Baird & Warner, 708-829-1820, susan.jenner@bairdwarner.com Beds: 3 Baths: 1.5

Date Address Price Buyer SellerApril 4 1310 Brassie Ave., Flossmoor $420,000 Sasa Oroz, Dianne Oroz

and John S. IrvingKaren E. Johnson and Lawrence A. Arbeiter

March 29 2635 Gordon Drive, Flossmoor $129,000 Lindsay Klauk Marilynn L. Collins and John F. Collins

March 28 942 Bowling Green Drive, Homewood $165,000 Loretta Adams Robert Moss

March 26 715 Park Drive, Flossmoor $535,000 Dana R. Dolan and Christopher M. Dolan

Augie O. Mimica, Ognjen Mimica and Renee A. Lafleur Minica

March 19 18631 Poplar Ave., Homewood $192,000 Michael Maddox Kevin T Seidel and Kathryn M. Seidel

March 19 17903 Homewood Ave., Homewood $26,000 Clarke Forsythe and Karen Forsythe

Vision Investments Inc

Highest for sale in Homewood

1. 2724 183rd St., Unit L, Homewood: $899,000 2. 18238 Aida Court, Unit D, Homewood: $475,000 3. 2211 Maple Road, Homewood: $389,9004. 2105 Maple Road, Homewood: $374,000 5. 927 Elder Road, Homewood: $360,000 6. 2235 Maple Road, Homewood: $299,750 7. 18130 Rockwell Ave., Homewood: $295,000 8. 18041 Stewart Ave., Homewood: $269,9009. 18111 Highland Ave., Homewood: $259,900 10. 15 Riegel Oaks Lane, Homewood: $249,900 11. 1718 187th St., Homewood: $245,00012. 3063 Hickory Road, Homewood: $239,900 13. 17708 Cherrywood Lane, Homewood: $235,000 14. 1469 Burr Oak Road, Homewood: $230,000 15. 18469 Kedzie Ave. , Homewood: $219,900 16. 19127 Loomis Ave., Homewood: $217,900 17. 17806 Turtle Creek Drive: $215,00018. 2818 Walnut Road, Homewood: $212,00019. 1700 Cedar Road, Homewood: $209,900

20. 467 Holbrook Road, Homewood: $205,000

Source: chicago.blockshopper.com

City% for

saleMedian

listing priceRate of

foreclosure # of sales# of

foreclosuresChicago Heights 2.37% $61,000 50.25% 203 102

Country Club Hills 2.26% $110,000 46.63% 193 90

Flossmoor 4.15% $215,000 24.56% 114 28

Frankfort 2.47% $290,000 25.37% 335 85

Glenwood 2.57% $78,000 35.90% 78 28

Hazel Crest 1.85% $101,000 50.34% 145 73

Homewood 2.52% $134,000 32.69% 208 68

Mokena 1.67% $222,000 23.62% 326 77

Olympia Fields 3.95% $201,500 38.89% 54 21

Orland Park 2.30% $220,000 14.48% 525 76

Park Forest 3.15% $41,000 41.76% 273 114

Tinley Park 2.32% $176,000 20.77% 467 97

H-F reAl estAte

Hot property: 18906 Kings road, Homewood

Home sAles For mArCH 19-April 4

mArketWAtCH: H-F

By tHe numBers

Selling a home that stands out from the rest? Email hotproperties@blockshopper.com —Rob Piskac

Source: Chicago.BlockShopper.com, Cook County Recorder of Deeds

Hardwood flooring lines the living room, which has decorative trim, exposed light-ing and large windows overlooking the front yard.

The master bedroom features carpeted flooring, a ceiling fan and a pair of win-dows with decorative trim. This property is situated 2.5 miles east of the Home-wood and Flossmoor Metra stations.

Listing agent: Susan Jenner, Baird & Warner, 708-829-1820, susan.jenner@bairdwarner.com Beds: 3 Baths: 1.5

Homewood Village Board unanimously passes budgetSenior citizens alerted to false-identity robberies

The Homewood Police Department would like to inform residents of theft scams that are targeting senior citizens in the area. Police report that thieves are us-ing false identities to gain the confidence of homeowners in order to enter the vic-tims’ homes.

Offenders are using false identities and stories, such as new neighbor, utility worker, village employee or construction worker. In addition to false identities, the thieves are making up stories in order to gain access to the house or property, such

as installing a fence and need to check the property line; checking on the water meter or working on broken water main; cutting some trees or performing some service that may affect the property; or checking on work that was done for a neighbor.

The Homewood Police Department also reminds residents to always ask for identi-fication from anyone that may want to en-ter your home.

Residents may also want to call the company or village that any such individu-al says they are working for to verify their employment. Residents may also call the Homewood Police Department at any time for assistance.

poliCe & Fire

poliCe BrieFs

Address Incident Time, DateVollmer Road Traffic stop 2:57 a.m. Feb. 15

Governors Highway and Heather Hill Crescent

Traffic stop 4:07 p.m., March 29

Verne Lane Stolen vehicle 11:01 p.m., March 29

Kedzie Avenue and Governors Highway

Personal injury accident 11:13 p.m., March 29

Dixie Highway and Terrace Road

Traffic stop 12:08 a.m., March 30

Lanark Street Burglar alarm 2:07 a.m., March 30

Cambridge Avenue Burglar alarm 5:22 a.m., March 30

Lanark Street Burglar alarm 7:50 a.m., March 30

198th Street Burglar alarm 7:56 a.m., March 30

Pheasant Court Burglar alarm 7:58 a.m., March 30

196th Street Alarm 8 a.m., March 30

Flossmoor Road and Berry Lane

Traffic stop 10:11 a.m., March 30

Western Avenue and Golfview Lane

Traffic stop 10:32 a.m., March 30

195th Street Burglar alarm 10:47 a.m., March 30

Dixie Highway and Holbrook Road

Accident with property damage

11:40 a.m., March 30

189th Street Drug offense 12:55 p.m., March 30

Troon Street Suspicious person 2:42 p.m., March 30

Kedzie Avenue and Flossmoor Road

Traffic stop 4:35 p.m., March 30

Governors Highway Traffic stop 5:01 p.m., March 30

195th Street Burglar alarm 6:02 p.m., March 30

Perth Avenue and Brumley Drive

Incident involving juvenile 6:06 p.m., March 30

Western Avenue and Vollmer Road

Disabled vehicle 6:20 p.m., March 30

Elm Street Parking problem 6:36 p.m., March 30

Flossmoor Road Identity theft 12:37 a.m., March 31

Governors Highway and Flossmoor Road

Incident involving animal 1:27 a.m., March 31

Dartmouth Road Burglary 1:28 a.m., March 31

Amery Court Burglar alarm 6:37 a.m., March 31

Ashley Oaks Lane Burglar alarm 8:59 a.m., March 31

Flossmoor Road and Harding Avenue

Driving complaint 9:04 a.m., March 31

Gianna Drive Found property 11:05 a.m., March 31

Cummings Lane Solicitation 11:35 a.m., March 31

Ash Street Disturbance 2:29 p.m., March 31

Kedzie Avenue EMS call 4:02 p.m., March 31

Sterling Avenue and Dundee Avenue

Driving complaint 5 p.m., March 31

poliCe Blotter - Flossmoor

Fire depArtment inCident report

Address Incident Time, Date183rd Street EMS 2:11 a.m. April 2

West 140th Court and Cottage Grove Brush fire 2:25 p.m. April 2

Gottschalk Avenue EMS 3:26 p.m. April 2

Homewood Avenue EMS 3:32 p.m. April 2

Maple Road EMS 5:51 a.m. April 3

Government

The Homewood Village Board passed its 2012-13 budget by a unanimous vote at its April 10 village board meeting, and according to Village Manager Ralph De-Witt, the village is in good fiscal shape.

Homewood runs on a fiscal year budget from May 1 through April 30.

DeWitt told TribLocal that sales tax revenues are projected to be $4.1 million in the 2012-13 fiscal year, a $150,000 increase from last year’s budget.

The village expects real estate taxes to bring in $2.818 million, a $232,000 reduction compared to last year. “This is due to property assessments,” DeWitt said. “The bottom line is declining home values over the last four years.”

Looking at the village finances overall, DeWitt said,

“Revenues have been relatively flat. We have a slight uptick in sales tax but that’s offset by a reduction in real estate taxes and state income taxes.” DeWitt added that

according to numbers reviewed after the last census, the village hasn’t experienced the growth that other Il-linois cities have.

Illinois state income tax revenues are expected to total $1.5 million, about $80,000 less than in last year’s budget. “Those are the biggies,” DeWitt said, referencing sales tax, revenues and real estate taxes.

Telecommunications tax revenues are projected at $899,000, a $24,000 decrease from last year, due to the increasing trend of a number of residents dropping traditional land line services and switching to cellular.

On the debt side of the equation, DeWitt said, “We’re pretty much a low-debt community.” He said outside of pension issues, the village only has one major bond debt, a $2.2 million bond taken out in 2010. “We’re making payments on the bond so that’s really our only major

debt.” Since the village has been faithfully paying on the bond, “We’re in a better debt position than last year,” he said.

While the village is in relatively good financial shape, that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. DeWitt said although revenues are up about 2 percent from last year, expenses have increased about 3 percent, leaving a 1 percent gap — or in dollars, about $200,000. “So our challenge will be to close that 1 percent,” DeWitt said.

Talks are continuing, but ideas such as canceling the village’s annual bike race have been floated.

Furthermore, if no solution can be found, the village does have a cash reserve fund, and DeWitt said the village can dip into those funds, if necessary, to close the budget gap.

On the business front, the village hasn’t lost any significant businesses from its tax rolls, but the village does house a Kmart, and DeWitt said the situation will be monitored closely as Kmart has closed several locations in recent years.

Sears Holdings Corp., owner of Kmart, laid off 100 employees from its Hoffman Estates headquarters Feb. 16.

Homewood Village Board unanimously passes budget

By Peter J. GallanisSOUTH SUBURBAN NEWS SERVICE

Flossmoor voters passed a referendum on the March 20 primary election ballot that allows the village to seek lower elec-tric rates for its residents.

By law, the village must hold two pub-lic hearings to present its plan to residents and allow them the opportunity to com-ment. Called the Flossmoor Electric Ag-gregation Governance Plan, the first hear-ing was held April 16; the second hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 7 at Village Hall.

Following the May 7 hearing, the vil-lage will solicit bids from suppliers who are licensed as alternative electric suppli-ers in Illinois. If favorable pricing does not exist, the village will not enter into an agreement and remain with its current energy supplier, ComEd. Kimberly Rich-ardson said the earliest residents could see a reduction in their electric bills would be summer or fall of this year.

The state of Illinois amended deregula-tion legislation, allowing municipalities to aggregate their residential and small busi-ness accounts, and seek competitive bids

for energy. Under state law, voters must approve a referendum granting Flossmoor the authority to seek electric service bids for residents and small businesses under a single contract.

Village officials added if the village de-cides to purchase electricity from another supplier, residents still have the option to opt out and continue to purchase their elec-tricity from ComEd.

Dean Armstrong, owner of the Floss-moor Station Restaurant and Brewery and chairman of a grassroots organiza-tion called Flossmoor Residents for Lower Electric Rates said he was glad to see the referendum pass.

“Some of the other communities in Il-linois voted [the referendum] down. Not only did we approve it, but by an 85 per-cent margin,” Armstrong said. “We had a very dedicated group of people who devot-ed their time and money to get this thing done. I wish to congratulate them on a job well done.

“The savings for the community as a whole could be between $600,000 to $700,000 a year,” Armstrong continued. “That’s buying power; those monies can in turn be reinvested in the community.”

Village of Flossmoor to solicit bids for lower electric ratesBy Peter J. GallanisSOUTH SUBURBAN NEWS SERVICE

PHoTo CourTESY oF FLoSSMoor rESIDEnTS For LoWEr ELECTrIC rATESFlossmoor resident Torri Clark places a “Vote Yes” sign in her yard encouraging resi-dents to vote in favor of Flossmoor’s March 20 referendum that would allow the village to purchase electricity from a variety of bulk energy suppliers. According to village officials, electricity savings could be as much as 20 percent.

Sales tax revenues projected at $4.1 million

DeWitt

H-F youth hockey teams capture SSHL titles The H-F Youth League captured a pair

of titles in the South Suburban Hockey League as the program’s Red team won the championship of the Squirt Division and the Black team was crowned winner of the Mite Division.

In the SSHL Mite playoffs, it was an all H-F final. H-F Black, coached by Tony Barracca and assisted by Bob Rice, Ron Grencik and Kristen Hill, posted a 7-2 victory in the championship game over H-F Red, coached by Sam Del Rio and as-sisted by Bill McCall, Sandesh Bilgi and Ed Hutton.

H-F Black was the top seed in the 10-team tournament and opened the playoffs with a 7-1 quarterfinal round victory over No. 8 seed St. Jude Team 1 before down-ing No. 5 seed Arctic Fury Team 2 in a 6-1 decision in the semifinals to reach the championship. H-F Black was the tourna-ment’s Cinderella, entering the field as the sixth seed before upsetting No. 3 seed Arctic Fury Team 3 5-0 in the quarterfi-nals and No. 2 seeded Arctic Fury Team 1 in the semifinals 4-3.

In the Squirt Division, H-F Red, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, coached by Rich Glass and assisted by Bob Paris, Miguel Mancha and Kenny Morrow, blanked No. 1 Kankakee 3-0 in the championship to claim the SSHL crown. H-F Red earned its spot in the title round by outlasting No. 3 seeded Arctic Fury Team 3 in a 4-3 shootout decision during the semifinal

round after opening the tournament with a 3-0 quarterfinal win over No. 7 seed Arctic Fury Team 4.

H-F Black was the sixth seed in the Squirt Division, but was eliminated 5-1 in the quarterfinals by No. 3 Arctic Fury Team 3. The H-F Pirates were the ninth-seed in the tournament and defeated No. 8 St. Jude Team 2 5-0 in the opening round before falling 7-0 in the quarterfinals to Kankakee.

H-F teams also competed in the Pee-wee and Bantam divisions of the SSHL playoffs. In Peewee action, H-F Black made it to the semifinals before falling 4-0 to eventual champion Arctic Junior Fury Team 3, the top seed in the 12-team tournament. H-F Black, the fourth seed, opened the playoffs with a 3-0 win in the quarterfinals over No. 5 seeded Arctic Junior Fury Team 2. H-F Red was the sixth seed and defeated No. 11 St. Jude Team 1 in a 2-1 opening-round game be-fore losing 4-3 in the quarterfinals to the third seed, Arctic Junior Fury Team 4. The H-F Pirates were the seventh seed in Pee-wee Division, and defeated No. 10 Arctic Junior Fury Team 5 by a 3-2 margin in the opening round before falling 4-2 to No. 2 seeded Kankekee in the quarterfinals.

In Bantams, H-F Red was the second seed in the seven-team tournament. It posted a 3-0 shutout over No. 7 St. Jude in the quarterfinals before being upset 5-4 in a shootout by No. 6 Arctic Fury Team 2 in the semifinals. H-F Black was the fifth seed but lost 3-2 in a shootout to No. 4 Arctic Fury Team 3 in the quarterfinals.

PHoToS CourTESY HoMEWooD-FLoSSMoor YouTH HoCKEYHomewood-Flossmoor Red celebrates after winning the Squirt Division title of the South Suburban Hockey League.

The Homewood-Flossmoor Black and Red teams celebrate on the ice after meeting one another in the championship round of the Mite Division playoffs in the South Suburban Hockey League.

By Brian BrownSOUTH SUBURBAN NEWS SERVICE

youtH sports notesHomewood Area Small Fry team places 7th

Homewood Area Small Fry Basket-ball finished seventh at the 44th annual International Tournament held earlier this month at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. The Vikings posted a 2-3 mark at the tournament to finish the 2012 season with a 14-14 record.

Homewood opened the tournament April 9 with a 46-37 loss to Encantada, Puerto Rico, after leading by as many as

17 points in the second half. Ernst Coupet, Nick Perry and Keegan Mraz each scored seven points to lead the Vikings while Jesiah Jones pulled down six rebounds.

The Vikings rebounded the next day to earn their first victory at the international tournament with a 36-30 win over CIAPR.

Homewood Area closed the tournament on a positive note in the seventh-place game by defeating Harvey 59-28. The Vikings raced out to an 18-2 lead and cruised the rest of the way for the 31-point win. Nick Perry led all scorers with 18 points, including three 3-pointers, while

Jesiah Jones nearly had a double-double with nine points and seven rebounds. Ernst Coupet scored eight points to go along with six rebounds and three assists, and Maurice Commander scored six points while dishing out six assists and recording five steals.

Baseball, softball to hold opening day celebrations

The opening day of baseball and softball season for the Flossmoor Baseball and Softball leagues will be celebrated by a parade at 9 a.m. April 28. The parade

route is from Parker Junior High School, east down Flossmoor Road, and under the viaduct to Bronco Field, where an Open-ing Day ceremony will be held.

Players should arrive at the PJHS park-ing lot by 8 a.m. for the parade. Parents can line up along any part of the parade route and meet players at the ballpark for an Opening Day ceremony. Flossmoor Baseball and Softball is for boys and girls ages pre-K through age 18. For more in-formation visit www.flossmoorbbsb.com.

—Brian Brown

youtH sports

H-F youth hockey teams capture SSHL titles

New AD to take the helm at HFHS

Homewood-Flossmoor High School will welcome Alec Anderson as its new director of athletics and activities on July 1.

Anderson, who brings more than 15 years of experience in athletic administra-

tion, was sought by the school based on his track record. An-derson looks forward to directing the HFHS athletic program, which he says other local schools use as a model, and recog-nizes the school’s competitiveness and

success in and out of its conference. Working at HFHS will also mean a

shorter commute for the family man, whose fifth-grade daughter, Sierra, enjoys attending sporting events with him.

Anderson’s love for athletics is evi-denced in his main focus for directing the HFHS program: to work alongside coach-es and help foster excellence.

“In my position, I like to help coaches and their programs be successful,” Ander-son said. “I’ve been around 30-plus years. … I can give advice that can be benefi-cial. I relish in the role of helping young coaches develop and take their roles fur-ther.”

He is a certified athletic administrator, a member of the National Interscholastic Association of Athletic Administrators and serves as the state awards chairman for the Illinois Athletic Directors Associa-tion.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in his-tory and physical education from South-ern Illinois University — Carbondale, and a master’s degree in education, adminis-tration and supervision from Governors State University.

Outside the school walls, Anderson en-

joys landscaping and gardening, which he calls “a pretty good stress reliever.”

He lives with his wife, Karen, a prin-cipal’s secretary at Kankakee Junior High School, and their daughter, who, natu-rally, enjoys playing sports. She currently plays basketball and participates in soft-ball in the spring.

When asked what he is most excited to bring to HFHS, Anderson references his experience working at different area high schools with diverse racial and economic backgrounds, among them Urbana, Evan-

ston and Bolingbrook, and that he works well with people from all different walks of life. Coaches, he said, can use his ex-perience to grow and cultivate better rela-tionships with students and parents.

Anderson also brings a team-player mentality to his new role. From a coach-ing standpoint, Anderson expects his coaches to adopt the philosophy that the team is more important than the individ-ual. “We’ll be successful as Homewood-Flossmoor High School,” he said, “not just as an individual.”

Alec Anderson to replace retiring Joe Skowronski

Anderson

By Dayna DeHavenSOUTH SUBURBAN NEWS SERVICE

ConTrIbuTED PHoToH-F faculty members honor retiring athletic director Joe Skowronski, right, at a Feb. 17 basketball game. He will retire at the end of the school year. His replacement is Alec Anderson who comes to H-F with more than 30 years of sports and coaching experience.

prep sports

prep sports notes

Baseball, softball leagues helping raise money for victims of house fire

The Homewood Baseball and Softball Leagues, along with Flossmoor Baseball and Softball, are helping raise money for Calvin Harden and his family after they lost everything when their home caught fire April 9.

Harden has been the president of the Homewood Baseball and Softball Leagues for the past two years, and his family has also been involved with volunteering in support of the music program at District 153.

The Harden Family Fire Fund has been established at Chase Bank, located at 18301 Dixie Highway, in Homewood, and

is accepting monetary donations. Online donations can also be made via

PayPal by following links on the league websites at http://homewood.baberuthon-line.com or www.flossmoorbbsb.com.

H-F boys’ varsity volleyball beats Andrew 2-1

Homewood Flossmoor’s boys vol-

leyball team knocked off Andrew 25-23, 20-25, 25-21 on April 16.

Wyatt Patterson hammered 15 kills and tallied six blocks. Shaquille Lott dished out 20 assists to go along with seven kills and four blocks.

Kevin Noe came through with 10 digs as Homewood-Flossmoor improved to 7-3.

—Brian Brown

New AD to take the helm at HFHS

ConTrIbuTED PHoToH-F faculty members honor retiring athletic director Joe Skowronski, right, at a Feb. 17 basketball game. He will retire at the end of the school year. His replacement is Alec Anderson who comes to H-F with more than 30 years of sports and coaching experience.

prep sports

leyball team knocked off Andrew 25-23, 20-25, 25-21 on April 16.

Wyatt Patterson hammered 15 kills and tallied six blocks. Shaquille Lott dished out 20 assists to go along with seven kills and four blocks.

Kevin Noe came through with 10 digs as Homewood-Flossmoor improved to 7-3.

—Brian Brown

Name High School Graduated College Sport Latest news

Aaron Hauge H-F 2009 Heartland CC Men's Baseball Named NJCAA pitcher of week after striking out 10 in a win over Illinois Central.

Ann Vrdolyak Marian Catholic 2008 Loyola University (Illinois) Women's Golf Posted a six-over-par 78 to grab 13th place at Dolores Black Falcon Invitational.

Ashley Parrott H-F 2009 Benedictine University (Illinois) Women's Softball Got a hit in a 5-2 win over Rockford.

Caitlin Jade McDonnell H-F 2009 Arcadia University Women's Soccer Has started all 17 games this season; second on squad in minutes played.

Chantel Turk H-F 2009 University of Illinois at Chicago Women's Gymnastics Scored a 9.775 on the floor and 9.675 on vault at NCAA Regionals.

Corey Schmidt H-F 2008 University of Wisconsin, Whitewater Men's Wrestling Has a 20-16 record this season, with a fastest-pin of 4:06.

Kevin Bayles H-F 2010 Augustana College (Illinois) Men's Tennis Has a 16-5 singles record this year for the 14-6 Vikings; 3-0 in doubles.

Nick Norris H-F 2008 Judson University Men's Baseball He's hitting .280 with 17 RBIs for the 36-9 Eagles.

Rachel Mayer H-F 2009 Loyola University (Illinois) Women's Golf Has competed in six events this season, with a nine-hole average of 87.5.

Samantha Baumgartner H-F 2007 Judson University Women's Softball Has started 26 games this year, hitting .232 with nine RBIs.

Tyler Burke H-F 2009 University of Illinois Track and Field Scored indoor season bests in the 60m (7.88) and 200m (27.29).

HomeWood-Flossmoor AtHlete trACker

sports

See complete Athlete Tracker at homewoodflossmoor.triblocal.com/data/sports.